Fu Ling (Poria), belonging to the fungal kingdom, is classified under the Basidiomycota phylum, Agaricomycetes class, Polyporales order, Polyporaceae family, and Poria genus.
Historical Records
“Bielu”: Fu Ling and Fu Shen grow in the valleys of Mount Tai under large pines. They are harvested in February and August and dried in the shade.
“Bencao Tujing”: Fu Ling, according to the current methods of collection by eastern people, is found in ancient pines in the mountains. When the pines are cut down, the dead branches and leaves do not grow back, and this is called Fu Ling. When found, one should use an iron-tipped awl to pierce the ground around it. If Fu Ling is present, the awl cannot be pulled out, and then the soil is dug to obtain it. The larger the Fu Ling, the larger the piece obtained, which grows independently and does not attach to the roots. The light and hollow ones are called Fu Shen.
“Gangmu”: Fu Ling can be as large as a dou (a traditional measurement) and as hard as stone, which is superior. The light and hollow ones are not good, as they are young and not firm.
“Weiyao Tiaobian”: Fu Ling should be taken in whole slices; those with slight membranes are genuine, while those that curl upon cutting are superior if they are pure white.
“Yixue Zhongzhong Canxi Lu”: Fu Ling, when used in decoctions, should be cut into thin slices; if cut into chunks, it will not cook through even after a whole day of boiling. It must be sliced thinly or ground into powder to be properly decocted.
“Bencao Fengyuan”: Fu Ling, a cultivated variety, is called Shiling, which comes from Zhejiang, but it is white and not firm, thus having less medicinal power.
Effects and Functions
Nature and Flavor: Sweet; Bland; Neutral. Channels: Heart; Spleen; Lung; Kidney.
Drains dampness and promotes urination; strengthens the spleen and harmonizes the stomach; calms the mind and settles the spirit. Used for urinary difficulty; edema and fullness; phlegm and cough; vomiting; spleen deficiency with poor appetite; diarrhea; palpitations; insomnia and forgetfulness; nocturnal emissions with turbid discharge.
For spleen deficiency diarrhea, Bai Fu Ling (White Poria) can strengthen the spleen and drain dampness, effectively addressing diarrhea and leukorrhea caused by spleen deficiency and improper transformation. Bai Fu Ling is often combined with Dang Shen (Codonopsis), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes), and Shan Yao (Chinese Yam). Bai Fu Ling can also be used as an auxiliary herb to tonify the lung and spleen, treating qi deficiency.
For palpitations and insomnia, Fu Ling nourishes the heart and calms the spirit, thus it can be used for symptoms of restlessness, palpitations, and insomnia. Bai Fu Ling is often combined with Ren Shen (Ginseng), Yuan Zhi (Polygala), and Suan Zao Ren (Sour Jujube Seed).
For phlegm and cough, with phlegm-damp obstructing the channels and causing shoulder and back pain, Fu Ling can drain dampness and promote urination while also strengthening the spleen, thus treating phlegm-damp conditions caused by spleen deficiency.
Pharmacological Effects
Antibacterial Effects
The 100% decoction of Fu Ling has inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Proteus vulgaris using the flat plate method. However, Fu Ling showed no antibacterial effects in test tube experiments. The ethanol extract of Fu Ling can kill Leptospira in vitro, but the water decoction is ineffective.
Effects on the Digestive System
Fu Ling has a direct relaxing effect on isolated rabbit intestines and can prevent ulcers formed by pyloric ligation in rats, as well as reduce gastric acid. It also has a significant protective effect against liver damage induced by CCl4 in rats, significantly lowering alanine aminotransferase activity and preventing hepatocyte necrosis.
Effects on the Blood System
The water extract of Fu Ling containing water-soluble small molecular polysaccharides can increase the level of 2,3-DPG in isolated healthy human red blood cells by about 25% and effectively delay the depletion of 2,3-DPG during incubation.
Effects on the Central Nervous System
The decoction of Fu Ling, administered intraperitoneally at doses of 5-10g/kg, has a sedative effect on mice, whether they were pre-treated with caffeine or not. Fu Ling shows a synergistic effect with pentobarbital sodium. The decoction of Fu Ling (10g/kg) did not significantly prolong the anesthesia time of pentobarbital sodium; however, at a dose of 40g/kg, it significantly extended the anesthesia time compared to the control group, and the sedative index increased with the dosage.
Related Combinations
1. Nocturnal Emissions with Turbid Discharge: One liang of Xue Bai Yan (Snow White Salt) (to consolidate and eliminate fire toxins), Bai Fu Ling, and Shan Yao, each one liang. Grind into powder, mix with jujube flesh and honey into pills the size of a walnut. Take thirty pills with jujube soup. This is sweet to balance the salty, benefiting both spleen and kidney. (“Zhi Zhi Fang”)
2. Post-Epileptic Edema: After a child recovers from epilepsy, there is deficiency of blood and qi, with heat in the skin, causing swelling all over. Grind Wei Rui, Kui Zi, Long Dan, Fu Ling, and Qian Hu into powder. Take one qian (3 grams) each time, decoct in water. (“Sheng Ji Zong Lu”)
3. Kidney Deficiency with Turbid Discharge: Mix Rou Cong Rong (Cistanche), Lu Rong (Deer Antler), Shan Yao, and Bai Fu Ling into powder, make into pills the size of a walnut, take thirty pills with jujube soup. (“Sheng Ji Zong Lu”)
Contraindications
Use with caution in cases of yin deficiency without damp-heat, deficiency-cold with nocturnal emissions, and qi deficiency with prolapse. Avoid using with Ma Lin. Avoid white astringents. Avoid Mu Meng, Di Yu, Xiong Huang, Qin Jiao, Gui Jia, and vinegar. Patients with kidney deficiency, frequent urination, or those with deficiency-cold and clear slippery essence should not take it.
1. “Wanshi Jia Chao Fang”: “Avoid iron utensils.”
2. “Gangmu”: “Avoid tea during use.”
3. “Bencao Congxin”: “Do not use in cases of liver and kidney yin deficiency.”
Gently chant, as the wind blows and leaves fall, breaking the remnants, the fallen flowers are pure and beautiful, the clear light slowly penetrates, beneath the clouds, the loneliness of fallen flowers sways like a red candle, covering the fragrant fingertips.
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